HL Deb 18 May 1977 vol 383 cc699-701

2.41 p.m.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their present intentions concerning the site of the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital at Millbank.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that part of the premises which lies to the North of the Tate Gallery and contains the hospital is to be made available to the Tate Gallery Trustees. That part which lies to the South and on which stands the Royal Army Medical College is being retained by the Ministry of Defence, although the long-term use for some of it has yet to be determined.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether or not he considers it rather unfortunate that yet another fine London hospital is being destroyed rather than having it leased to BUPA or one of the contributory schemes for use as a private hospital, at a time when there is so much pressure on the waiting list of nearly every London hospital?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, this is a matter on which it is difficult to form a judgment. In fact the military requirements will be fully met by the new Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital at Woolwich, which is just opening. A decision was reached about the future of this particular building as long ago as 1969, and I see no reason why it should be changed.

Lord DRUMALBYN

My Lords, was any part of the building offered to the Department of Health and Social Security before it was decided to dispose of it in this way?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I cannot answer that question; it is over ten years ago since the decision was reached.

Lord BEAUMONT of WHITLEY

My Lords, is it too late to reconsider the destruction of one of the last really attractive examples of riverside architecture in Central London?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, while it is a delightful hospital to be in, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder and I personally would not regret its going.

Lord BOURNE

My Lords, could the noble Lord the Minister tell us whether the new medical inspection room North of the officers' mess is available yet for the visiting specialists and consultants to Millbank?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is a question that I cannot answer. If the noble Lord would put down a Question, I will certainly answer it.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, can my noble friend say when the conversion of these premises as an annexe to the Tate Gallery is likely to be carried out? I can understand it if he is reluctant to give a date at the moment, but in the meantime can he give an assurance that these buildings will not be pulled down and yet another derelict site added to those already disfiguring the face of London?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the site is being vacated by the end of June 1977. Part of the site will continue to exist in the married quarters, the chapel and the sisters' mess. Those will remain.